Parenthood can take a toll on your body. The days of spending hours in the gym now take a back seat to changing diapers, picking up toys and chasing kids around the house, and that in itself can seem like a workout. But having kids doesn't mean your fitness goals go out the window. Some moms find creative ways to make it work. Stephanie Lozano counts her blessings that her trainer, Manuel Davila, likes kids, because her children, ages two, four and seven, will often join her in the one-hour training session she has at her home two to three times a week. If it weren't for her sessions with Davila, a certified personal trainer, the 36-year-old mom said she couldn't incorporate fitness into her day. She tried working out before the kids woke up but says she needs her energy to run around with them during the day. “This is the best plan because I don't have to get everybody dressed and out of the house,” Lozano said. “Just to work out takes some major planning, and it can be stressful sometimes and I skip out of my routines.” Lozano said her younger kids look forward to Davila's sessions and that he often keeps them busy while she's doing cardio or other strength moves. For most new moms, it's hard not to forgo fitness routines and put on weight. Tending to the kids often means many priorities are put on the back burner. And while you stay busy, the extra pounds are added by finishing little Johnnie's snacks or settling on a Big Mac since McDonald's is your new favorite restaurant. Many moms also prefer not to put their kids in a day care or a gym nursery, so they have to be more creative in finding workout time. Dorys Mueller tried leaving her kids in her gym's nursery but found her workouts were continually interrupted because of issues with the children. So the mom of a soon-to-be two and three year old has turned to Stroller Strides. Several years ago, D.D. Cobb opened a franchise here to help moms work out while their kids go along for the ride in their strollers. Lisa DeArmond now oversees the franchise, running programs three times a week at local parks. Mueller said the one-hour sessions are real workouts, and it's tougher for her because she has to push a stroller holding two kids, not just one. Since starting the program a few years ago, Mueller has lost 50 pounds - the 45 she put on with her second child, plus an extra 5. “We are not just walking around, I'm usually sore. It's good because moms get to exercise and lose the baby fat or keep toned during their pregnancy. It's a good option when you have young kids and don't want to put them in day care.” But sometimes programs like Stroller Strides might not be a good fit for moms with slightly older children. Veronica Elizalde has to be a little more strategic in trying to find a workout time. She and her husband often take turns taking care of the kids in the evenings so she can work out on their treadmill. Elizalde said she forfeited paying gym dues to get the treadmill so she can have some workout equipment at home. Another alternative for Elizalde is working out while her 21-month-old son and 3 1/2-year-old daughter nap for two hours. But she's careful during those times not to put the treadmill on because the loud noise could wake them. Instead, she'll do quieter work, such as toning or strength training. “You have to fit it in where you can as a stay-at-home,” she said. “Before it got hot or in the late evenings, sometimes I put the kids in the stroller and go walking.” Dad Yuri Martinez, who has an 11-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, invested in a stationary bike to try to get in 30 minutes of cardio. But he still has to be strategic. “If Marcel is playing a computer game and I know Melanie is watching cartoons, then I will hop on the bike,” Martinez said. “But I have to set them up. I make sure Melanie has water and crackers to cut down interruptions.” - San Antonio Express-News __
